Sixers bounce back once again

Wednesday

Mar 30, 2011 at 12:01 AM

It's almost like old hat for the 76ers. When the Sixers lose a game or two, they regularly find a way to win. They're 9-2 after their last 11 defeats

The latest example was Monday night's 97-85 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Bulls that halted Chicago's 14-game home win streak and stopped the Sixers' two-game slide, which included Sunday's loss to the Kings.

"I told you I had a resilient group of guys," Sixers coach Doug Collins said afterward. "These guys never cease to amaze me."

Collins gave the 38-36 Sixers the day off Tuesday following back-to-back outings. They play six of their final eight games at home, starting with the Rockets tonight at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Sixers are sixth in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of the No. 7 Knicks. Barring a disastrous end to the regular season, the Sixers will make the playoffs. Their magic number is three, meaning any combination of three Sixers' victories and three losses by the Bobcats and Bucks would put the Sixers in the postseason because Philly holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Sixers could clinch as soon as this evening with a win over the Rockets and a Bobcats home loss to the Cavaliers.

While it's likely that the Sixers will face the Heat or Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, Collins refuses to look ahead.

This evening's game means more to the Rockets because Houston is 2 1/2 games out of the final Western Conference spot.

The Sixers are hoping to have key reserve Thaddeus Young in uniform after a hard fall with 5:27 remaining against the Bulls. Young, who had scored 17 of his team-high 21 points in the first half, slid while diving to try to save the ball and his left knee appeared to buckle. He stayed down for perhaps 30 seconds.

Collins said he feared a serious knee injury like the one that prematurely ended his playing career. But Young was diagnosed with a strained groin and returned to the game with 1:39 left when Spencer Hawes fouled out. Young is officially listed as a game-time decision after receiving treatment Tuesday.

"It's a little stiff right now," Young said Monday evening. "With a couple days (to rest it), I'll be fine."

Hawes is also playing well for the Sixers. The starting center is averaging 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over the last four games, scoring in double figures in four straight for the first time this season.

Tom Moore can be reached at tmoore@phillyBurbs.com. Follow Tom at twitter.com/tmoorepburbs

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